…as Guyana observes International Day for PWDs

TWELVE students who are blind and visually-impaired from various regions across Guyana, on Tuesday, benefitted from a computer donation that is expected to facilitate a much more meaningful learning experience for them.

In observance of this year’s International Day for Persons with Disabilities, the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD) organised for the donation in partnership with Rajshree Singh and other donors.

The beneficiaries from Regions Two, Three, Four and 10 uplifted their computers at a simple ceremony at the Guyana Society for the Blind on High Street, Georgetown.
Programme and Communications Officer of GCOPD, Ganesh Singh, offered that in accord with the Guyana Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Act 2010, the body would like to urge policymakers and other members of society to ensure that the inherent human rights of all PWDs are fulfilled and that they have an equal opportunity to live independent, dignified and productive lives.

“Any development agenda in Guyana must consider the voices of persons living with disabilities. This will ensure that their rights and needs are clearly communicated and understood. For this reason, whenever policies, infrastructure and other initiatives are planned, developed and implemented, it should always be done with the meaningful input of the affected population,” Singh expressed.

He said the council is also calling on members of the Guyanese society to play a role in ensuring PWDs live in a barrier-free society with limited instances of discrimination.
According to him, GCOPD is further calling on policy makers to develop a programme for the allocation of a monthly “Disability Grant” to qualified PWDs, as a living allowance, which should be administered separately from the “Public Assistance” Grant.

GCOPD also wants that qualified and skilled PWDs be allocated a small percentage of all public sector jobs, and that all public schools are accessible and governed by a relevant Special Education Needs policy that promotes the integration and full participation of children with disabilities, ensuring they acquire a meaningful education.

Singh said all public buildings should also be accessible to PWDs, in compliance with the Guyana PWD Act 2010. Persons with disabilities should also have an opportunity to participate in the country’s electoral process and be able to vote independently, Singh noted, and should also have a voice in the expenditure of the revenues from the oil and gas sector.

The 2030 agenda for sustainable development pledges to “leave no one behind”. “In order to ensure that there is equitable, inclusive and sustainable development in Guyana, the Guyana PWD Act 2010 must be implemented in its entirety and persons living with disabilities must be empowered with the voice and opportunities to participate, contribute and benefit equally and meaningfully from Guyana’s development thrust,” Singh stated.
The GCOPD is the umbrella body that represents the majority of Disable People Organisations (DPOs) from across Guyana working in the areas of advocacy and capacity building.

Meanwhile, the theme for yesterday’s observance is “promoting the participation of persons with disabilities and their leadership: taking action on the 2030 development agenda.”
The UN designated the observance of this Day, in 1992, to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of PWDs.